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Bulletin Reflection

Who’s to Blame

By Alice Camille

The wheat and the weeds grow up together: That is a succinct description of human history. Certainly it was true in Jesus’ own biography. He chose 12 apostles to be his intimate associates, and was not one of them a sometimes negative presence? It may be unfair to single out one betrayer, however, when others would also desert, deny, grow skeptical, jostle for power, and make inquiries that prove there really is such a thing as a dumb question. The same gospel teaching is available to all disciples. How few receive it, and how rarely even they apply it.

Salvation history is acres and acres of weeds competing with the wheat for space, resources, and attention. Every Abel faces his Cain, and every David faces his own reflection in the mirror. Good and evil are rarely distinct characters in the story. Growing up in such close proximity, the wheat and the weeds frequently seem to be offshoots of the same stalk.

Our task is not to separate out the bad elements in our society from the good ones but to acknowledge that all are tainted. We’re each capable of monstrous choices—which also means we’re equally capable of heroic ones. In the same way, the weedy parts of our past can still produce wonderful fruit. If we’ve suffered, it may make us more compassionate, gentle, sympathetic. If we’ve sinned, we can more easily forgive, offer guidance, encourage repentance in others.

While we’re fixated on weeding out the dark elements in the societal field, our gaze is too often turned outward, externalizing what’s bad. The blame game implicitly exonerates us. Even if we find fault with ourselves, the blaming principle seeks to assign responsibility further: “He made me angry.” “They raised me to be a loser.” Don’t most of our confessions begin or end with extenuating circumstances that render us technically pre-absolved?

If we surrender the impulse to blame and let God be “the source of justice” as Wisdom teaches, we find that God’s justice is much kinder than our variety. That may be what we’re most fearful of: that God won’t punish our foes enough to satisfy us. How many movie villains, intent on taking down the hero, wind up hurtling into the evil trap they themselves had set? When we insist on divine vengeance, we’re like those evil geniuses, teetering on the edge of our own hell.

Jesus tells us it’s not for the servant to tell the householder how to tend his weedy field. When we allow God to be God, we’re also freed to be simply ourselves. Deprived of divine responsibilities, we no longer have to decide who’s righteous. We can also enjoy the benefits of God’s remarkable clemency.

Bulletin Announcements

PARISH PARKING LOT PARTY: This year’s Parish Parking Lot Party will be held on August 11, 2011 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Volunteer sign up sheets are in the church for anyone that wishes to assist with this event.

COOKIES NEEDED: We are looking for donations of cookies for the Parish Parking Lot Party. Cookie donations can be dropped off at the rectory during office hours or at the church before and after Masses. Due to allergy concerns, no nuts please.

Be a Part of a Piece of Art: Take advantage of a unique opportunity to be a part of the history of our diocese. Consider making a pledge toward the new Stained Glass Windows for the Cathedral of the Holy Family. Consider a gift in honour or in memory of a loved one. For those who make a gift in memory, a picture and your words of remembrance will be part of a multimedia donor recognition display in the new Cathedral. A pictorial booklet and pledge forms are available at the back of the Church. For more information please contact the Diocese of Saskatoon Foundation office at 306-244-6667 or email chagerty@dscatholicfoundation.ca

FAREWELL GATHERING FOR FR. TONY Fr. Tony will be leaving St. Mary’s Parish this summer, having been appointed to St. Teresa’s Parish in St. John’s, NL. Please join us on Saturday July 30th following the 7:00pm Mass to say farewell and express our appreciation to Fr. Tony for his service to St. Mary’s.

BISHOP DONALD BOLEN’S VISIT: Bishop Donald will be visiting St. Mary’s Parish on the weekend of July 30, 31, 2011 and will be presiding at all three weekend Masses. Join us for Coffee & Muffins following the 9:00am Mass to meet and welcome Bishop Donald to our parish.

ST. MARY’S PARISH AUCTION IN SUPPORT OF PARISH NURSE MINISTRY is really just around the corner! We are asking all parishioners this fall to consider donating new (or gently used) items that we can sell at our auction. You can help support this great event in two ways—by asking businesses to donate items for the sale and by attending the auction with your friends and relatives! Sr. Carol, our parish nurse, reaches out to many people in our neighborhood with the work that she does. Help bring hope to the residents of our community by supporting the Parish Nurse Ministry. If you have any questions or to make a donation, please call Parish Office at 244-2983. . Remember—the auction is on Saturday, October 15th at 10:00am